This document discusses the cladding of buildings. It defines cladding as an external finish applied to improve a building's appearance and resistance to weathering. The main purposes of cladding are to separate the indoor and outdoor environments and maintain suitable indoor conditions by preventing water, air, light, noise, and fire penetration. It also discusses the types of cladding units and how cladding must withstand wind loads and structural movements without cracking.
2. CLADDING OF BUILDINGS
• Learning outcomes :
After studying this chapter, the student should be
able to:
– Understand the functions of cladding
– Identify the types of cladding
– Understand the types of unit cladding applied to a
structural backing
– Understand the concrete panel claddings
– Understand GRC and GRP cladding panels
– Understand infill panel cladding
– Understand curtain walling
3. General
• Cladding is an external finish applied to a
building by fixing varieties of products to a
structural baking or to a framed structure in
order to improve its decorative look and
resistance to atmospheric effects.
• Before the development of cladding techniques
the standard external finish to buildings consist
of rendering and painting, which is difficult, time
consuming, labor intensive and expensive.
4. • The cladding is the most visible part of a building
therefore it has a very big effect of the finished
look of the building.
• The major purpose of cladding is to separate the
indoor environment of a building from the
outdoors in such a way that indoor
environmental conditions can be maintained at
levels suitable for the building's intended use.
• Especially with the increased number of high
rise construction, the technology of cladding
rapidly developed. Most of the cladding panels
do not require any maintenance. This could be a
sufficient reason to choose cladding panels for
external finishing.
5. Functions of Cladding
• Cladding must prevent the entry of rain, snow
and ice into a building. Water on the face of a
building often driven by wind at high velocities
and high air pressures in every direction. Water
problem is even more critical on tall buildings.
During a heavy storm large amounts of water
falls to the face of the building. Under the
pressure this water will readily penetrate through
the smallest crack or hole into the building.
6. • The cladding of a building must prevent
the passage of air between indoors and
outdoors and provide sufficient heat
insulation. The air leaks are harmful
because they waste the air conditioning
and cause condensation on the surface of
the walls.
• The cladding of a building must control the
passage of light, especially sunlight.
Excess amount of sunlight may cause
glare and create uncomfortable living
conditions inside.
7. • Cladding should isolate the interior of a
building from noises outside, or vice versa.
Noise insulation in a building is best
achieved by walls that are airtight,
massive, and resilient.
• Cladding must resists positive and
negative wind pressure and transfer them
to main structure by maintain the integrity
of the whole structure. This characteristic
is more critical in tall buildings.
8. • Cladding should adjust the thermal, shrinkage
and settlement movements of the building
elements without developing cracks.
• Cladding of a building should have required
amount of fire resistance.
Cladding are generally non-load bearing but must
be self supporting and capable of resisting
horizontal wind loads. Cladding can be classified
as follows;
– Small size unit cladding fixed to a structural backing.
– Larger size cladding fixed between framing members.
